Qatar Chamber Panel Conducts Study on Obstacles Facing Contracting Sector

Qatar Chamber held a virtual meeting Tuesday to discuss ways to address the challenges faced by the contracting sector and how to develop the industry. The meeting was presided over by Qatar Chamber board member Mohamed bin Sultan al-Jaber. The virtual meeting discussed the preparations for an inclusive study on the obstacles facing this sector and the challenges faced by contracting companies. Addressing the participants, al-Jaber said the contracting sector is among the State’s vital sectors, and stressed that the private sector played a key role in implementing construction projects related to the development plans set by the country.

Al-Jaber lauded the State’s interest in engaging private sector companies in projects, especially infrastructure projects. This, he said, would help in enhancing the partnership between the public and private sectors, and stimulating the private sector to participate in various fields. He also stated that there are many obstacles facing the contracting sector. The committee is preparing for a comprehensive study to identify these obstacles and forward its findings to Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani, he said.

Once the study is completed, a series of meetings would be held with the concerned entities related to the contracting sector to discuss the most important obstacles included in the study, and to discuss and suggest appropriate solutions. The committee members lauded the directives of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani to include companies operating in the contracting and construction sector, enabling them to benefit from the National Response Guarantee Program.

They also praised the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs’ decision to stop the ban on all companies affiliated with a violating company, so that the ban will be only on the violating commercial register, especially with regard to delaying the payment of salaries. The committee also praised the decision to allow the recruitment of new employment. This would increase the ability of contracting companies to implement their projects, especially strategic projects, the committee stated.